With the completion of the dam construction at the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, the Punatsangchhu has been successfully diverted through the dam. Since 2015, the river had been diverted away through the diversion tunnel to carry out the dam construction works. With that, about 93 per cent of the overall construction works of the PHPA-II has been completed.
The river has been now diverted through its original course to the dam by closing the gates of the diversion tunnel. And the filling of the dam reservoir will be started in April, next year, taking the project closer to completion.
The Economic Affairs Minister and Indian Ambassador to Bhutan graced the event today. Some senior officials from both countries also attended the event.
According to a news release, this is an important milestone as Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project Authority prepares for full commissioning in 2023-2024.
The dam has a storage capacity of close to five million cubic meters. According to the Economic Affairs Minister, it will take more than a month to fill the dam.
“Next will be filling up the dam. Then after filling up the dam then there will be testing. Testing basically means that the water should flow from the Head Race Tunnel which is the tunnel that carries water to the powerhouse. Similarly, in the powerhouse, turbines would be tested, and all these things should be tested,” said Loknath Sharma, Economic Affairs Minister.
“From the Government of India side, from the Government of Bhutan side, as I said we have authority, we meet regularly. We had a meeting very recently among both the governments and other stakeholders, and I think we are very committed and we are able to meet quickly and address any challenges,” said Sudhakar Dalela, Indian Ambassador to Bhutan.
As part of the Project, an over 90-meter-high concrete gravity dam, about a nine-kilometre-long Head Race Tunnel and an underground Power House are being constructed among other components at the cost of Nu 94 bn.
Currently, the project is focusing on the construction works of the powerhouse and Downstream Surge Gallery.
“Overall, we are trying to see and keep our target by August and September next year. If we are able to carry out the commissioning of the first unit then, it might go till June 2024 to finish commissioning all six units. That is the timeline that we are looking at,” said Loknath Sharma, Economic Affairs Minister.
The 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Project is being implemented jointly by the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Government of India.
Once commissioned, the Project will generate more than 4 billion units of electricity annually, and increase power generation capacity by 43 per cent over the present capacity.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Tshering Zam
